The pain that you are feeling at the back of your heel could be Achilles tendinitis! Your achilles tendon stretches from the calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. You can find it pretty easily by feeling for the thick band behind your ankle and above your heel. This tendon makes extending your foot and pointing your toes all possible. Achilles tendinitis is a common injury caused when the tendon becomes swollen and painful. In extreme cases, the tendon could rupture if there is too much force on the tendon.
What Causes Achilles Tenon Injuries?
- Overuse
- Wearing heels that are too high
- Flatfeet
- Tight muscles or tendons
- Too much physical activity too soon
Achilles tendinitis is often seen in people who are more active whether in sports or just in life.
What Achilles Tendinitis Feels Like
- Swollen area in the back of foot
- Pain along the back of the foot- might become more intense when stretching your ankle or standing on your toes
- Tenderness when your foot hits the back of your shoe
- Problems flexing your foot or pointing your toes
How To Treat Mild Achilles Tendinitis
- Avoid putting weight on your leg
- Ice 30 minutes on 30 minutes off
- Use a compression bandage or sock
- Take anti inflammatories
- Use a heel lift
Other Problems that Cause Heel Pain could be:
- Haglund’s Exostosis – a bone spur on the back of the heel
- Arthritis of the ankle
- Tear or rupture of the Achilles tendon
- Achilles Bursitis – inflammation on the back of the heel
- Tennis leg – tear of one of the tendons in the back of your leg leading into your heel
If you have pain in the back of your heel, it is important that the doctor examine you to determine exactly what is wrong. If you find out you do have Achilles tendinitis, Dr. Schlam will go over other treatment options. These might include a special splint to stretch the tendon correctly, orthotics, ultrasound therapy or injection therapy. We are here to help. If you are feeling this type of pain and aren’t getting any better on your own, give our office a call and we will set you up with a preferred appointment at (845) 298-9074. Hollowbrook Foot Specialist – Serving the Hudson Valley from Wappingers Falls. By David Schlam
